Shock-absorber.



B. J. BORGMANN.

SHOCK ABSORBER.

APPLICM'ION FILED FEB. 15. 91h

1,242, 134. Patented Oct. 9, 1917.

2 SHEETS-SHEET l- ,11 222222 f I/ A 8.1. BORGMANN. SHOCK ABSORBER. APPLICATION mm m1. :5; m1.

Patentd 00: 9.1917.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 a? W a WZZQZJSESZ Jim L/JJZM/ BERNARD J. BORGMANN.

OF CINCINNATI, OHIO.

SHOCK-ABSORBER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

latenteu uct. 9, 1917.

Application filed February 15, 1917. Serial No. 148,745.

10 M, wuu'ut 1.6 may concern:

Be itknown that I, Hermann J. Bone- MANN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Cincinnati, in the county of llamilton and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Shot-k- Hbsorbers, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to shock absorbers which ma be used in connection with the springs 0 automobiles or other vehicles. to reduce the strain upon suchsprings during the compression and rebound thereof, or which may be used wherever it is desired to reduce or eliminate shock or sudden strain between two bodies, movable relative one to the other.

It is an object of my invention to provide a -shock absorber for this purpose, comprising novel means for gradually increasing the frictional resistance exerted by onebody t6 the movement of the other, as the movement of the latter is continued; and further, to provide novel means for adjusting the frictional resistance exerted between the movable bodies.

Other objects of my invention will appear from the following description and claims, and from the drawings, in which latter:

Figure 1 is an end elevation of my improved shock absorber.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same.

Fig. 8 is an enlarged transverse section on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a. similar section on of Fig. 2; and,.

Fig. 5 is a detail vertical section on the line 5-5 of Fig. 2.

11, 12, represent the bodies, movable relative to each other, to which my shock absorber. is applied, the body 11 being instanced, for the purpose of illustration, as. a. portion of the chassis of an automobile,

and the body 12 as the axle of the same. 45. Any standard, or preferred type of springs,

not shown, are adapted to be positioned between the axle and the chassis in the usual 13- rep the line 4-4 resents one member 0f the shock to absoi'ber, and 14 the other member thereof,

geliich 1s movable relative to the first memr, the member 13 bein exemplified as secured to the chassis, an the member 14 as secured to the axle by an adjustable connection.

which the respective pins I be received, the plates being arranged Wltll:

-ing' bow-spring wi The member 13 is exemplified as provided with contact-shoes 15 between which and the member 14 movement is adapted to take place to form a frictional resistance between the said members, the member 13 being instanccd as comprising a supporting springbow, the base 17 of which is secured to the chassis, as by bolts 18. The arms 19 of the bow, depending from base 17, are each exemplified as terminating in a caring support 21 for a pin 22 the hem ng support being instanced as formed by reversely curlin g the ends of the respective arms as shown at 23.

Contact-shoes 15 are adapted to be pivotally supported upon The shoes are exemplified aseach comprising an arcuate plate 25, having spaced hearing cars 26 upon the curved face thereof comprising the inner arcuate curve through 22 are adapted to their faces, which comprise the outer arcuate curve, in opposed spacedrelatiomand with the chords of the arcs forming the plates, perpendicular, to ins 22 and; normally substantially paral el.

' The resiliency of arms 19 of the supportll tend to force shoes 15 toward each other, but additional means are preferably provided for urging the shoes toward one another, instaneed as comprising springs, preferably helical spring 30, connecting the ends of the respective pins 22 at each side of the bow-spring. Springs 30 are adapted to be adjustably connected to pins 22, to vary the tension of the springs the respective pins 22.-'

as desired, the ends of pins 22 being exemplilied for this purpose, as each provided with an axially projecting bearing-ear 31,

bolt 33 with thebolt abutting against the adapted to eacl; head 34 of the bearing-ear, and the shank- B5 of the bolt having a. nut 36 threaded thereon Nuts 36 are secured to the respectivei'ends of each spring 30, as by anchoringfth end of the spring in a suitable aperture iii ,the nut, the bolts threaded through the rspectiYenuts being adapted to ad1ust the'end sflof each sprin relative to pins 22, by th riiing the bolts in their bearing-ears -31. bearing;

22 is preferably resupport a car at one end of each pin movably secured to the pin, to permit of 05-,

sembling of the parts of the device, theremovable connection being exemplified as a threaded connection 38 between the end of pins 60 intermediate of the ends of the rethe pin and the bore of a collar 39 prcferspective pins; the curled ends 62 of the fricably integral with the bcnrir1g-ear. tion-plates being provided with slots 63 to Member 1-1 of the shock absorber is exemreceive the eyes, and through which the 5 plilied as comprising arcuate frictioicplatcs screws project. The adjusting nut 58 for '41, oppositely disposed upon a suitable supthe lower ends of friction-plates 41 1S pref- 7 port. The friction-plates are arranged to erably received through stem 42 in an 0penbe received between shoes and contact ing 64 suitably positioned therein. therewith to forn'i a frictional resistance to The operation of my device is as follows: 19 the movement of member 14 relative to When the springs of the vehicle to which member 13. The support for friction-plates the shock absorber is attached, are exerting 75 41 is exemplified as comprising a stem 42, their normal tension, members 13, 14, of the having an adjustable connection with axle shock absorber will be-in their normal posi- 12 of the vehicle, this connection being intion, as illustrated in the drawin s, with 15 stanced as comprising a slot 43 extending friction-plates 41 so positioned etween longitudinally of the stem and adapted to shoes 15 that the portions of the plates havreceive a. bolt 44 which is threaded into a ing substantially the least lateral space besuitable opening in the axle. Slot 43 is tween them, are opposite the pivot points preferably provided with a series of serraof shoes 15. When the wheel of the ve- 2o tions 45 at the sides thereof, arranged to hicle strikes an obstruction, thus moving engage bolt 44, and the bolt is preferably axle 12 toward frame 11, the springs of the 35 provided with a usual washer 46 between vehicle are compressed, and stem 42 and its head and the walls of slot 13. plates 41 will be moved lon itudinally up- Arcuate friction-plates 41 are preferably wardly between shoes 15, so that portions of 25 secured to each side of Stem 42 at a point the plates having an increasing Wider space intermediate of the ends of the plates, as between them, will be positioned between by rivets 49, the plates being arranged with shoes 15, the friction-plates thus exerting an their curved faces 50, comprising the outer increasing outward pressure upon the shoes arcuate curve, against stem 4-2, and their against the action of springs 30, and the 30 curved faces 51 comprising the inner arcshoes swinging slightly downwardly upon uate curve, preferably spaced from the re their pivots to accommodate themselves to spectiVo arcuate plates 25 by frictional the movement-of the pic The frictional wearing-pads 52, friction-plates 41 belng resistanceto relative longitudinal movement preferably comparat vely longer than shoes between members 13, 14, is thusgradually 35 15 so that when relative upor down moveincreased, thereby cushioning the strain ment takes place between member 14 and transmitted to the vehicle springs.

member 13, friction-plates41 and shoes 15 Upon the rebound of the springs of the will remain in contact throughout the vehicle, the movement of friction-plates 41, length of shoes 15. relative to shoes 15 will'be in the opposite 4o sifads 2 may be of any suitable wear 113- direction, to similarly gradually increase the 5 si mg material adapted to create friction frictional resistance exerted ween mem- 1 45 p a es I construction as thus described, the more viocans are preferably provided for adlent t e movement of the hxle 12 relative justing the respective ends of friction-plates to frame 11, the greater will be the frictional 41 toward or from each other, instanced as resistance offered to such movement, since accomplished by right and left hand screws portions of thesfriction-plates havin a cor- 50 56 57, secured to the ends of the respective res ondingly wider space between them, will friction-plates and having a nut 58 threaded be rought into contact with the shoes to 115 upon the ends of the coacting screws, so that force the shoes and plates intomore intiturmngof nut 58 Wlll move screws 56, 57 mate frictional contact, sihce the greater the and the ends of the friction-plates secure outward pressure exerted upon the shoes,

I 55 therein, toward or from each other. The the greater will be the -Sp11Ilg resistance of-- =iscrews are connected to the ends of plates fered,to such movement.

e received upon a ment in one directlon ,caused by an bstrucpm 6 0 secured to the plate. PlIlS 60 are extion in the road, and the resistance flered o0 emplified as extend ng transversely of the to the' consequent rebound of the vehicle friction-plates and are preferably seeurcd springs, may be separately adjusted, by movthereto by reversely pulling the ends of the ing the proximate ends of friction-plates 41 .platesf about the pins, as shown at 62. 'toward or from each other, by means of ad Screw-eyes 59 are preferably received upon justing nuts 58 and by means of bolt 44 I 41 by providing an eyi b59 in the head of The fractional resistance ofi'erod to movethere is an adjustment also provided for greater or less normal distance between the chassis 11 and the axle 152 of the vehicle.

While I have described my improved shock absorber, and the method of operating the same, as a shock absorber applied to the springs of a vehicle, it will be readily understood that the device is also applicable for use Wherever it is desired to gradually cushion the movement of one body toward or from another, so as to elin'linate excessive strain or shock.

Havingthus fully described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. In a shock absorber, the combination of a friction-momber having' opposed frictionfaces of regular curvatm'c frictionshoes towing padded friction-faces of similar regular curvature enacting with said firstnamed frictioirfaces, means for (hanging the curvatures of said first-named faces, means for resi iently 'iorcing said faces toward each other. and means whereby to secure said friction-member and said tric1ion shoes, respectively, to two relatively vibratory parts of a vehicle.

2.' n a shock absorber, the combination of a boW-spring arranged to be secured to one of two relatively vibratory parts of a vehicle, friction-shoes pivoted thereto, a friean1-,i1n*mber arranged to be secured to the othcgof said relatively vibratory parts, said friction-member provided with opposed friction-faces, said frictionshoes provided \nth friction-faces enacting with said opposed friction-fares pivobpms on 'lllCl'l said shoes are pi mtwl said pivot-pins pro rided with eyes, springs at the respective ShlOS of sand shoes, and ad usting bolts for 'said springs located in aid eyes.

'3. In a shock absorber. the combination of a how-spring arranged to be secured to one o: two relative y vibratory parts of avbhiclc, a friction-21v ber means for adjusrably securing said frictionanember to the other of said relatively vibratory parts for adjustably positioning said frictionmember toward or from both said part be tween the limbs of said bow-spring. said friction-member provided ith oppositely curved frictirul-laces relatively separating toward their upper ends and toward their lower ends and friction-shoes pivoted. to the outer ends of said imw-springs, said frietionshoes having opposerl cnrved Friction-facessubstantially e-meentric with and coasting with said First-mined friction-faces, and said adjusting means re a ively :nfljusting the horizontal radial liner; of said frictiolrfaces into coincident horizontal planes 4. In a she ab-an her. the coml'iination of a pair of re tliliVElJ movable mcmbcm ranged for attachment respectively to two relatively vibratory parts of a vehicle, one of said members provided with a pair of op: posingly curved-friction-faces curved in the plane of the vibratory movement between said two relatively vibratory parts, and the other of said members comprising a pair of pivoted friction-shoes provided with opposlug] y curved friction-faces respectivel coacting with said respective first-name opposingly curved friction-faces the curvetures of said coacting curved riction-faces in said plane of vibratory movement being substantially concentric.

5. In a shock-absorber, the combination of a pair of relatively movable members arranged for attachment respectively to two relatively vibratory parts of a vehicle, one of said members provided with a pair of opposiugly curved friction-faces curved in the plane of the vibratory movement between said two relatively vibratory parts, the other of said members comprising a pair-0f pivoted friction-shoes provided with opposingly curved frictiomfaces respectively coacting with said respective first-named 0pposingly curved friction-faces, the curvatures of said coacting curved friction-faces in said plane of 'vibratory movement being substantially concentric, and the radii of said curvatures being ldnger than the distances between the lv'otal axes of said respective shoes and t eir vrespective coacting friction-faces. A a

6. In a shock-absorber the combination of a pair of relatively movable members arranged for attachment respectively to two relatively vibratory p arts'fof a vehicle, one of said members provided with a. pair-of opposingly curved friction-faces curved in the plane of the vibratory movement between said two relatively vibratory parts, the other of said members comprising a pair of pivoted friction-shoes provlded with opposingly curved friction-faces respectively enacting with said respective first-named opposingly curved friction-faces, the curvatures of said coacting curved friction-faces in said plane of vibratory movement bein snbstantiall concentric, the radii of sai curvatures be between the pivotal axes of said respective shoes and their respective enacting frictionfaces, and resilient'means acting to cause.

ing longer than the distances- 

